2003 Honda Accord Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 95about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,987 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 66,575miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 95 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Honda Accord, 5% of the 1,987 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,575 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving to work today and my car began to downshift into 1st gear when I was running about 45 miles per hour. It began jerking and after pulling over it would not go into reverse. If I had been on the freeway, this could have caused a serious accident. This is a major complaint with 2003 Honda Accord owners. Something needs to be done.”
NHTSA complaint #10440138, filed 2011-12, 102,000 miles“I own a 2003 Honda Accord. The car has unintended acceleration. After two episodes where the engine revved up to 4000rpm without depressing on the accelerator the car was taken to the Honda dealer and they claim to have repaired the car. Yesterday my wife was driving the car and another episode occurred. She stopped the car with the brakes and no accident occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #10343732, filed 2010-07, 127,000 miles“At approximately 56,000 miles, we had to replace the rear main oil seal. At 68,000 miles, we had to replace the fuel pump and as of june 4th, 2011, we were informed that we need to replace the transmission at 78,000 miles. The transmission failed going approximately 70 MPH and proceeded into limp mode to 30 MPH. …”
NHTSA complaint #10409590, filed 2011-06, 78,000 miles“My transmission failed while driving today. Driving across the hwy the car suddenly downshifted violently. After that, the car would skip gears and downshift at will. I drove home with the car stuck in first gear. The car is an automatic.”
NHTSA complaint #10430099, filed 2011-10, 175,000 miles“My 2003 Accord ex v6 completely failed. I was driving on the freeway at 65mph and the transmission went out with no prior warning and no warning lights. I was lucky and safely coasted off the freeway to the shoulder.”
NHTSA complaint #10442158, filed 2012-01, 120,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10144032Aug 9, 2018Service bulletin - Emission certification labels that were replaced on a small number of vehicles may have been replaced with a label listing incorrect information. The affected…
- 10135067Apr 17, 2018Tech line summary article - When adding keys or running the System Check with the Immobilizer Setup Tool in the i-HDS, are you seeing this message? "Immobilizer system is not…
- 10022954Oct 11, 2011Honda: vehicle moves (creeps) faster than expected when idling in gear. *nj updated 11/1/11.
- 10020687Nov 1, 2006Engine intermittently stalls after body shop repair.
- 10021129Oct 16, 2006Stalls with electrical load after body shop repair. Dtc p1588 and/or p1589 stored. P1163 and/or surge, jerks, bucks between 20-60 mph. Tire pressure monitoring system dtc 32, 34…
- 10016769Aug 16, 2005Long crank time, hard to start. Honda tech line summary.
- 10018005Aug 1, 20051st to 2nd upshift shudder, judder, vibration at 2k rpm.
- 10018003Aug 1, 2005Troubleshooting a stalling engine? Take a snapshot with the hds. Honda servicenews.
- 10018078Jul 16, 2005Diagnose engine stalling with onboard snapshots.
- 10016295May 16, 2005Engine-cranks won't start, immobilizer light flashes.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 | 28 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1% |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% |
| 2013 | 7 | 0% |
| 2012 | 9 | 2% |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 12 | 2% |
| 2009 | 29 | 4% |
| 2008 | 41 | 3% |
| 2007 | 26 | 5% |
| 2006 | 19 | 4% |
| 2005 | 27 | 4% |
| 2004 | 28 | 3% |
| 2003 | 95 | 5% |
| 2002 | 33 | 3% |
| 2001 | 29 | 3% |
| 2000 | 65 | 5% |
| 1999 | 144 | 13% |
| 1998 | 134 | 11% |
| 1997 | 48 | 10% |
| 1996 | 96 | 20% |
| 1995 | 43 | 8% |
| 1994 | 84 | 23% |
| 1993 | 35 | 19% |
| 1992 | 19 | 9% |
| 1991 | 14 | 7% |
| 1990 | 13 | 7% |
| 1989 | 12 | 14% |
| 1988 | 8 | 9% |
| 1987 | 6 | 5% |
| 1986 | 3 | 6% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
| 1984 | 4 | 18% |
| 1982 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2003 Honda Accord
924 complaintsAir bags
318 complaintsBrakes
172 complaintsElectrical system
142 complaintsSteering
90 complaintsVehicle speed control
81 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
75 complaintsBody and structure
73 complaintsEngine
51 complaintsEquipment
51 complaintsOther or unknown
49 complaintsSuspension
31 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Honda Accord
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology